Board sport training device and method of use

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a board sport training device and a method of use. In accordance with an embodiment, a board sport training device comprises an elongated platform for receiving a user and a base disposed beneath the platform. The base has a front pivot area and a rear pivot area. The front pivot area and the rear pivot area are positioned along a longitudinal axis of the platform and separated by a distance from the platform. The front pivot area and the rear pivot area are also separated by a distance from each other such that the platform is pivotable from side-to-side when the front pivot area and the rear pivot area are in contact with a ground surface and the user steps to various positions between the front pivot area and the rear pivot area. The rear pivot area is inset from a rear end of the platform such that the platform is rotatable about the rear pivot area when the user steps to a position such that only the rear pivot area is in contact with the ground surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of training devices for boardsports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board sports such as surfing, windsurfing, snow boarding, skateboarding,wake boarding, and others require the use of advanced balancing skillsin an unstable and dynamic environment. Additional skills also must bemastered. For surfing, these skills include the ability to quickly movefrom a prone position (on one's stomach) to a standing position, theability to step to an appropriate position on the board to speed up orslow down, the ability to adjust the body to perform proper turningtechnique and the ability to perform advanced maneuvers, such ascross-stepping and drop-knee turns. It can be difficult to practicethese skills in the customary environment for the sport, such as surfingin the water, because the opportunities to practice are limited. Inaddition, the customary environment may not allow the needed movementsand balancing to be repeatedly practiced.

Simulators have been developed that use external forces generated bymechanical devices, such as motors, pumps, springs and the like to moveand tilt a surfboard-like standing platform. In reality, the movement ofa surfboard is mostly controlled by changing the vertical and horizontalposition and foot pressure of the surfer. These simulators tend togenerate board motions independent of the rider's foot positions,pressures, and vertical position of the center of the gravity and, thus,do not effectively help the users' ability to control and manipulate thesurfboard.

Balancing devices, such as the Indo Board™ which has a flat boardsurface with a separate cylindrical drum beneath the board, have alsobeen designed or developed to help practice balancing skills. However,these devices are limited in their movement and do not accuratelyreflect the stepping, cross-stepping, and turning techniques that areuseful in an actual surfing ride.

The devices discussed above tend to require a hard surface in order tobe used and may even require electricity. This can make them impracticalfor use at beaches, where most surf school classes are conducted.

Thus, there is a need for an improved training device for board sports.It is toward this end that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a board sport training device and amethod of use. In accordance with an embodiment, a board sport trainingdevice comprises an elongated platform for receiving a user and a basedisposed beneath the platform. The base has a front pivot area and arear pivot area. The front pivot area and the rear pivot area arepositioned along a longitudinal axis of the platform and separated by adistance from the platform. The front pivot area and the rear pivot areaare also separated by a distance from each other such that the platformis pivotable from side-to-side when the front pivot area and the rearpivot area are in contact with a ground surface and the user steps tovarious positions between the front pivot area and the rear pivot area.This allows the user to perform side-to-side balancing. Stepping,cross-stepping, and turning maneuvers may also be practiced whileperforming side-to-side balancing. The rear pivot area is inset from arear end of the platform such that the platform is rotatable about therear pivot area when the user steps to a position such that only therear pivot area is in contact with the ground surface. This allows theuser to practice turning maneuvers.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method of board sport trainingusing a training device is provided. A training device comprising anelongated platform for receiving a user and a base disposed beneath theplatform is obtained. The base has a front pivot area and a rear pivotarea, the front pivot area and the rear pivot area being positionedalong a longitudinal axis of the platform and separated by a distancefrom the platform, and the rear pivot area being inset from a rear endof the platform. The user is positioned on the platform such that acenter of gravity of the device and the user is between the front andrear pivot areas such that the user performs side-to-side balancing. Theuser is positioned on the platform such that a center of gravity of thedevice and the user is over the rear pivot area such that the userrotates the device about the rear pivot area.

These and other aspects of the invention are described in more detailherein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a board sport training device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, illustrates a bottom view of the board sport training device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the board sport training device inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a training and practice device for developingbalance and coordination in general, and specifically for developing anatural body movement in unstable and dynamic circumstances similar tosurfing or windsurfing on water. The device allows surfers to practice acombination of realistic balancing skills concurrent with the techniquesof standing, stepping, and turning. Unlike prior training devices, thepresent invention permits the users to experience the real sensation ofhow their position and technique can control not only their balance butalso the direction and the speed of the surfboard. This is particularlytrue on a long board, where stepping, cross-stepping, drop-knee turns,and other techniques are utilized.

The skills gained from such practice can also benefit other board sportssuch as windsurfing, snow boarding, skateboarding, wake boarding, andother board related sports. The invention is transportable and durable(even in a natural shoreline environment) which make it very easy forsurfers and trainees to bring it along to practice where the learnedskills can be put in use immediately.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a board sport training device 100 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, while FIG. 2illustrates a bottom view of the board sport training device 100. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device comprises an elongated platform 102and a base 104. A commercially available conventional surfboard maycomprise the platform 102. Alternatively, the platform 102 may beconstructed specifically for use as part of the training device 100.

The base 104 is disposed beneath the platform 102 and comprises a frontpivot area 106 and a rear pivot area 108. The base 104 is preferablyformed as a unitary body of which the front pivot area 106 and the rearpivot area 108 are portions. For example, the base 104 may beconstructed from a substantially rigid material, for example, a plastic,such as polyethylene, polyvinylchloride or acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), or fiberglass. The base 104 may be formed as asubstantially hollow shell of the substantially rigid material.Alternatively, the base may be of substantially solid construction. Forexample, the base 104 may be formed as a shell of substantially rigidmaterial having a substantially solid core, which may, for example,include a foam plastic such as polystyrene.

The base 104 may be coupled to the bottom surface of the platform 102using straps 112. For example, the straps 112 may pass through apertures114 in the base and terminate in hooks 116 which grasp edges of theplatform. Alternatively, the straps may be wrapped around the platform102. The straps 112 allow the base 104 to be easily attached to aplatform 102 for use as a training device and then easily removed whenthe user is ready to try their skills in the water. Thus, the topsurface of the base 104 may be shaped to adapt to the bottom surface ofa specific board (surfboard, windsurf board, snowboard, skateboard,wakeboard, or others). Where the platform 102 is a conventionalsurfboard or other type of board having one or more skegs, these may beremoved before the base 104 is attached.

Alternatively, rather than the platform 102 and the base 104 beingseparable, they may be constructed as a unitary body. For example, theplatform 102 and the base may be formed as a single piece of moldedplastic or fiberglass.

The front pivot area 106 and the rear pivot area 108 are positionedsubstantially along a longitudinal axis 110 (FIG. 2) of the platform 102and separated by a distance from the bottom surface of the platform 102.For example, the distance between the bottom surface platform 102 andthe front pivot area 106 may be a maximum of approximately 4-5 inches,while the distance between the bottom surface of the platform 102 may bea maximum of approximate 7-8 inches. In other words, the maximum heightof the base 104 at the front pivot area is approximately 4-5 inches,while the maximum height of the base 104 at the rear pivot area 108 isapproximately 7-8 inches. In addition, the front pivot area 106 and therear pivot area 108 are separated by a distance from each other. Thisdistance is sufficient to allow room for the user to step to variouspositions along the platform 102 between the front pivot area and therear pivot area while performing side-to-side balancing. Therefore, thedistance between the front pivot area 106 and the rear pivot area 108may be at least two feet, and is preferably approximately three to sevenfeet or more, depending upon the length of the platform 102. It will beapparent that the dimensions described herein can be varied. As can beseen from FIG. 2, the base 104 at the rear pivot area 108 is preferablytaller than it is at the front pivot area 106. The width of the base 104may be between 25% and 95% of the typical board's lower surface width.The length of the base 104 may be between 25% and 90% of the typicalboard's lower surface length. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2 exemplarydimensions of the device 100 for a 9.5 foot long board may be asfollows: the base may be approximately 7 feet long (dimension A in FIG.2); the front pivot area 106 may be separated by a distance from theplatform 102 by approximately 4-5′ (dimension B in FIG. 2); the rearpivot area 108 may be separated by a distance from the platform 102 byapproximately 7-8′ (dimension C in FIG. 1); the base may beapproximately 6-12′ wide (dimension D in FIG. 2) and the distancebetween the front pivot area 106 and the rear pivot area 108 may beapproximately 4½ feet (dimension E in FIG. 1). It will be apparent,however, that other dimensions may be selected.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the board sport training device 100.From FIG. 3, it can be seen that the front pivot area 106 and the rearpivot area 108 are substantially semi-circular in cross-section. In apreferred embodiment, the front pivot area 106 and the rear pivot area108 are substantially semi-elliptical in cross-section. Thesemi-elliptical and/or semi-circular bottom surface of the base 104interacts with the ground surface on which one has chosen to use thedevice.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 104 is preferably tapered both inheight and width at its ends where it meets the bottom surface of theplatform 102. In addition, the base 104 is preferably contoured so thatthe tapered ends smoothly blend with the front and rear pivot areas 106and 108. Also, the base 104 is preferably contoured so that it smoothlytransitions from the rear pivot area 108 to the front pivot area 106,the rear pivot area 108 having greater height than the front pivot area106. To facilitate rotation of the training device 100 about the rearpivot area 108, the dimension of the rear pivot area 108 is preferablylimited in the longitudinal direction. This may be accomplished bycontouring the base 104 such that its height is gradually decreasing atall sides of the rear pivot area 108, thus, forming a substantiallyrounded profile seen from the side of the device 100 as in FIG. 2 and asseen from the front of the device 100 as in FIG. 3.

Many surf school classes occur at the beach where the instructors candemonstrate and the students can experience the actual waves immediatelyafter the class instruction on the beach. Thus, the device 100 is suitedfor use on a soft ground surface, such as wet sand near the water, grassor dirt. The device may also be used on hard surfaces such as pavement.To use the device 100, the device 100 is placed with the base 104 on theground surface so that the front pivot area 106 and the rear pivot area108 are in contact with the ground surface. The platform 102 is thenpivotable from side-to-side, thus, simulating the instabilityencountered while surfing or windsurfing on water. This allows the userto perform side-to-side balancing so long as a center of gravity of thedevice and the user is between the front and rear pivot areas 106 and108. Paddling, moving from a prone paddling position to a standingposition, turning and stepping maneuvers may also be practiced whileperforming side-to-side balancing with the device 100 in this position.Stepping toward the front of the platform 102 simulates a maneuver whichwould increase the speed of a surfboard while stepping toward the rearof the platform 102 simulates a maneuver which would decrease the speedof a surfboard.

The rear pivot area 108 is inset from a rear end of the platform suchthat the platform is rotatable about the rear pivot area 108 when onlythe rear pivot area 108 is in contact with the ground surface. Thus, theuser may move to a position on the platform 102 such that a center ofgravity of the device and the user is over the rear pivot area. Forexample, the user may place one foot behind the rear pivot area 108 andone foot in front of the rear pivot area 108 so that the front pivotarea 106 can be lifted off of the ground and the device may be rotatedabout the rear pivot area 108. This allows the user to practice turningmaneuvers. Because the base 104 is taller at the rear pivot area 108,the front pivot area 106 can be lifted off of the ground while theplatform 102 is substantially parallel with the ground.

The location of the rear pivot area 108 may depend upon the specificboard sport (surfboard, windsurf board, snowboard, skateboard,wakeboard, or others) for which the device 100 is used. For example, atypical surfboard will have the pivot point nearer the aft portion ofthe board. Where the device 100 is used for windsurfing, this pivot areamay be closer to the center, being nearly below the mast of the typicalwindsurf board.

The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is providedfor the purposes of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive orto limit the invention to the embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, thescope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

1. A board sport training device comprising: an elongated platform for receiving a user; and a base disposed beneath the platform and having a front pivot area and a rear pivot area, the front pivot area and the rear pivot area being positioned along a longitudinal axis of the platform and separated by a distance from the platform, the front pivot area and the rear pivot area being separated by a distance from each other such that the platform is pivotable from side-to-side when the front pivot area and the rear pivot area are in contact with a ground surface and the user steps to various positions between the front pivot area and the rear pivot area, and the rear pivot area being inset from a rear end of the platform, such that the platform is rotatable about the rear pivot area when the user steps to a position such that only the rear pivot area is in contact with the ground surface.
 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the base at the front pivot area and at the rear pivot area is substantially semi-elliptical in cross-section.
 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the base at the front pivot area and at the rear pivot area is substantially semi-circular in cross-section.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rear pivot area is separated by a distance from the platform by a first distance and the front pivot area is separated by a distance from the platform by a second distance and wherein the first distance is substantially greater than the second distance.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the base has a maximum height of approximately 7-8′ at the rear pivot area and a maximum height of approximately 4-5 inches at the front pivot area.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a surfboard comprises the elongated platform and wherein the base is removably attached to the surfboard.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated platform and the base are constructed as a unitary body.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the front pivot area and the rear pivot area are in contact with the ground surface when a center of gravity of the device and the user is positioned between the front and rear pivot areas.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein only the rear pivot area is in contact with the ground surface when a center of gravity of the device and the user is positioned over the rear pivot area.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the platform is substantially parallel with the ground surface when only the rear pivot area is in contact with the ground surface.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base is formed of a substantially rigid material.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the base is substantially hollow.
 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the base is substantially solid.
 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base at the rear pivot area is substantially rounded as seen from the side and front.
 15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the front pivot area and the rear pivot area is at least two feet.
 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the front pivot area and the rear pivot area is between approximately three and seven feet.
 17. A method of board sport training using a training device, comprising steps of: obtaining a training device, the training device comprising an elongated platform for receiving a user and a base disposed beneath the platform, the base having a front pivot area and a rear pivot area, the front pivot area and the rear pivot area being positioned along a longitudinal axis of the platform and separated by a distance from the platform, and the rear pivot area being separated by a distance from a rear end of the platform; positioning the user on the platform at various positions between the front pivot area and the rear pivot area such that a center of gravity of the device and the user is between the front and rear pivot areas and the user performs side-to-side balancing; and positioning the user on the platform such that a center of gravity of the device and the user is over the rear pivot area such that the user rotates the device about the rear pivot area.
 18. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the user moving from a prone paddling position to a standing position while performing side-to-side balancing.
 19. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the user stepping along the device while performing side-to-side balancing.
 20. The method according to claim 9, further comprising placing the device on a hard ground surface.
 21. The method according to claim 9, further comprising placing the device on a soft ground surface.
 22. The method according to claim 10, wherein the soft ground surface comprises wet sand of a beach. 